Looking for Answers

Sheriff, family at odds over inmate’s death

Potter County Sheriff Ron Boynter contends that he should not be compelled to report to the family of jail inmate the circumstances of the inmate's death because Potter County Attorney Scott Brumley believes the inmate's family intends to sue.

Photo by Greg Rohloff

The sheriff's position is part of a reply to a petition filed in 47th District Court to compel Boynter to give a deposition to the attorneys for the family of Michael Dick, 33, who died July 19 after being in Potter County Jail for 10 days. A hearing for the family's petition and the county's reply will be on Oct. 24 at Potter County Courthouse.

The sheriff's reply and the autopsy report from Lubbock medical examiner Dr. Tom Beaver, who has been at the center of an investigation there into wrongdoing and lack of proper credentials. Questions about Dick's incarceration and care while in jail were discussed at a news conference Tuesday by attorneys Chris Hoffman and Jeff Blackburn, retained by Dick's family to help find out why their son stricken with peritonitis during his stay in Potter County Jail was not taken to a hospital for treatment. FULL STORY

Time Capsule

Tascosa to bury memories

When Tascosa High School's 50th anniversary time capsule is opened in 2058, it will showcase a byte out of the school's history.

The majority of the items planned to be in the time capsule will be electronic files to make sure information that would be too big on paper can fit into the capsule, said Mike Johnson, one of the school's guidance counselors and the head of the 50th anniversary committee. FULL STORY